Model track



Oct. 18, 1938,

E. DONNELLEY MODEL TRACK Filed March 19, 1937 Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES MODEL TRACK Elliott Donnelley, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Scale Models, Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application March 19,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved track construction for model or miniature railroads.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel construction of model railroad track which accurately simulates real railroad track but which is of simple and inexpensive construction, particularly in that the railway tie plates, though in appearance, are accurate imitations of real tie plates, do not involve the manufacturing expense and assembling costs of the large number of individual plates.

In carrying out this objective, the plates are preferably provided as a part of an elongated strip having connecting portions between adjacent plates constructed and disposed to underlie the rail so as to be hidden from view and thus maintain the appearance of a plurality of individual and separated plates.

Other objects not specifically enumerated are 20 contemplated for the present invention as will hereinafter more fully appear to one skilled in the art as the following description proceeds.

The disclosure herein given is merely for the purpose of illustration and is not to be considered as limiting the invention as the scope thereof is to be determined from an understanding of the present disclosure and an appreciation of the advantages which the invention produces therein.

The following description may be more readily -understood by referring to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of model railway track constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 2 is an elevational view in cross section, of the track shown in Figure 1 and taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and,

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of strip material constituting a series of the tie plates and connecting portions constructed and applied as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

By referring to the drawing, it will be understood that the present invention is illustrated as embodied in model railway track comprising a suitable base or support I0, and a series of ties II, suitably secured in spaced relation on a base as shown in Figure 1. These ties may be secured to the base by a suitable adhesive not shown, or by nails I2, or any equivalent such as a screw or other suitable means.

Mounted on top of the ties in spaced relation are the tie plate strips I 3, of any suitable material and construction but preferably of relatively thin metal formed in the manner illustrated in 1937, Serial No. 131,850

Figure 3. As shown, the tie plate strip is composed of an elongated connecting portion I I, having cross elements I5 spaced one from the other a distance corresponding to the distance between the ties II so that each of the cross elements I5 5 will overlie a tie as shown in Figure 1. Each cross element preferably has struck therefrom, a plurality of bendable ears I 6 and a plurality of small openings I! all as shown in Figure 3. The ears I 6 are struck in opposed relation on oppo- 10 site sides of the longitudinal centerline of the strip and are so spaced as to receive the bottom portion of the rail which is placed thereon. The holes I1 are so disposed as to provide suitable spike holes so that the rail may be spiked to the 15 tie through the cross element or tie plate.

With this construction the cross element I5 may be applied to the under side of a rail with the bendable ears clinched over in engagement with the lower flange I8 of the rail so that the 20 lower flange of the rail overlies and hides the longitudinal connecting portions I4 extending between the cross elements or tie plates I5. Thus when the rails and the strips are applied to the ties in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, 25 the rails and strips may be secured to the ties by means of spikes 20, placed through certain of the cross elements or tie plates I5 and when so assembled, the tie plates I5 accurately simulate a series of actual individual tie plates. Thus 30 it will be seen that through the utilization of a strip as illustrated in Figure 3, accurate simulation of actual track is provided without involving the expense of manufacture and assembly of the numerous individual plates located at each of 5 the ties.

Furthermore, in cases where the model railway rolling stock, adapted to travel on the track here described, is propelled by electric motors, it is necessary to convey current through the track 40 and in such instances, the strip here described and illustrated in Figure 3 may be of a conducting metal which can bridge the connecting joints of the track and thus provide good electrical conductivity throughout the entire rail system. In 5 such case the joints of the strips and the joints of the rails would not coincide.

Furthermore, it is not necessary to spike the rail to each tie in providing model track as it is in the case of real track and consequently a sav- 50 ing in manufacturing cost can be made with this construction by spiking only certain of the tie plates to the underlying ties. As illustrated, a holding spike may be placed at approximately every third tie or perhaps every fifth tie as may be desired. In such cases, the bent over ears I6 which occur at each cross element or tie plate, give the appearance of spike heads and thus carry out the visual similarity between this model track and real track being imitated. At those ties where an actual spike is provided, the appearance of a double spike will be given and at the other tie plates, the small holes II will be visible, all in accurate simulation of similarly arrangeJ spikes and holes found in actual tie plates now in use.

It is to be understood that the strip material shown in Figure 3, may be made in any suitable length and of course can be cut for curves and other shapes for adapting it to the track conditions to be set up. In assembling the track, it is only necessary to apply the strip material to the upper surface of the ties and to thereafter apply the rails on top of the strips and to bend over the holding ears l6. Thereupon the strips and rails may be spiked at spaced intervals according to the conditions of the particular installation.

On the other hand, it is possible to apply and clinch the strips to the'bottom of the rails before the rails and strips are applied to the ties and in other instances, it may be desirable to bend over the ears l6 and slide the rails thereon by a longitudinal motion. It is obvious that any convenient method may be adopted for assembling the track. In all events, however, a very simple and eflicient construction results which accurately maintains the similarity 01 appearance of the finished track to the railroad track now used by real railroads.

As illustrated in Figure 2, a suitable ballast material 25 may be provided on top of the base or support Ill and between the ties H, in which case an accurate imitation of real railroad track is completely carried out.

Furthermore, it should be understood that the base element ill need not be provided as a portion of the track construction as-obviously the track may be laid directly on any other support ing surface, in'wliich event, the ties will not necessarily "be secured to the underlying support.

Furthermore, as here illustrated, certain of the ties may be extended laterally as shown at 26, in Figure 1, to provide spaced supports for a third rail 28, which is suitably held on elevated posts 29, all as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This third rail may be utilized as an electric conductor suitably positioned with respect to track to enable the current to be picked up by a brush or shoe, carried on one side of the locomotive or other portion of the rolling stock traversing the track.

It will be apparent that a further advantage in this construction resides in the fact that the tie plates as provided by this invention, will always be maintained uniformly spaced and thus cannot become displaced one relative to the other.

I claim:

1. Model track for model railroads, comprising a plurality of ties, elongated sheet metal strips disposed on top of said ties, and rails mounted on top of said strips; said strips having lateral extensions at the locations of said ties projecting beyond the side edges of said rails and formed to simulate tie-plates, and further having connecting portions between said lateral extensions disposed in approximate contact with the under surfaces of said rails so as to be substantially hidden from view by said rails; and means for holding said strips to said ties, and other means for holding said rails to said strips.

2. Model track for model railroads, comprising a plurality of ties, elongated sheet metal strips disposed on top of said ties, and rails mounted on top of said strips; said strips having lateral extensions at the locations of said ties projecting beyond the side edges of said rails and formed to simulate tie-plates, and (urther having connecting portions between said lateral extensions disposed in approximate contact with the under surfaces of said rails, so as to be substantially hidden from view by said rails;

and means for holding said strips to said ties, and other means for holding'said rails to said strips; said first-named means being disposed at the locations of only certain of said ties; and said other means being disposed at the locations of each of said ties and constructed to simulate rail spikes.

3. Model track for model railroads, comprising a plurality of ties, elongated sheet metal strips disposed on top of said ties, and rails mounted on top of said strips; said strips having lateral extensions at the locations of said ties projecting beyond the side edges of said rails and formed to simulate tie-plates, and further having connecting portions between said lateral extensions disposed in approximate contact with the under surfaces of said rails so as to be substantially hidden from view by said rails; nails extending through said strips and into at least certain of said ties for holding said strips at spaced intervals; and fingers struck from said strips for engaging the flanges of said rails for holding said rails to said strips, said fingers being formed and disposed to simulate rail spikes.

ELLIOTT DONNELLEY. 

